The melting pot is bubbling as Christmas draws closer. Reflecting the county's ethnic diversity, Christian congregations offer a rich mix of holiday traditions.
"We all bring different backgrounds to Christmas, so everyone feels included," said the Rev. Richard H. Tillman, head priest at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, which has a large Hispanic population.
The church, which offers a Spanish-language Mass each Saturday for its members, will celebrate such a Mass on Christmas Eve, followed by a dinner.
For Maria Luisa Gaston, a member of the Spanish-speaking congregation, Christmas brings memories of celebrations in her homeland of Cuba, where the festivities last from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6.
Such celebrations often featured live nativity scenes, she said.
"About every school and neighborhood had one," she said. "We did that in Miami like a play. It got bigger and bigger every year -- one year we had 300 people."
Ethnic tradition also is important to members of the 160-member Orthodox Church of St. Matthew, which has members from Russia, Finland, Greece, Ukraine, Syria and Romania.
The church is affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America, which got its independence from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970. Its members observe Christmas on Dec. 25, not on the Jan. 7 date traditionally observed by Russian Orthodox churches.
"I think our parish is a good example of how Christ really does break down the walls or barriers that sometimes separate people, because our parish brings together people of different backgrounds," said the Rev. Raymond Valencia, pastor. "We are truly a family."
Members of the congregation, which meets in Amherst House in Kings Contrivance, keep national Christmas traditions alive in their own homes, Mr. Valencia said.
For instance, in Ukraine, people paint eggs by hand for Christmas.
At racially mixed Bethel Baptist Church in Ellicott City, members will share a 200-piece birthday cake in honor of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is even more special this year because it falls on Sunday, the Christian sabbath, said Rev. Bruce Romoser, Bethel's minister.
"When Christmas falls on a Sunday, it's wonderful for us," he said. "I really explain why he came; he came giving himself for all of us."
And the church's ethnic diversity fits in well with the message of the holiday, said the Rev. Ron Monteith, Bethel Baptist's youth pastor.
"Christ taught us that all men and women are equal and race has nothing to do with it," he said. "God said, 'Come as you are.' "
Earlier this month, members of South Columbia Baptist Church on Guilford Road held a Christmas open house that offered a virtual world tour of holiday traditions.
Among the exhibits in its "Christmas Around the World" room were a Scandinavian Christmas tree, hung with apples and gingerbread men; nativity scenes from around the world, including an African tableau carved from wood; a festive Polish dress and Dutch wooden shoes.
"We wanted to show how other people celebrated Christmas," said Iris White, who coordinated the event.
And although the holiday is not part of their religion, Christmas gives members of the local Jewish community a chance to help out some of their Christian neighbors.
Volunteers from B'nai B'rith of Columbia plan to fill in for "911" operators at the county's communications center who want to observe Christmas Day with their families.
"If we can do something for people on a holiday that really doesn't mean anything to us, it makes us feel good," said Stuart Goldman, a member of the local B'nai B'rith.